Chael Sonnen is widely regarded as the best trash talker in fight sports since Muhammad Ali. However, The Gangster from Oregon's immediate inspiration is not the 'Louisville Lip' but rather, like Ali, Sonnen learned how to work a mic from pro wrestling. Ali had Gorgeous George, and Chael has The Superstar, Billy Graham.

This is Sonnen doing his thing Saturday night:

And this is Graham, back in 1975:

And now the two will be united, cageside. Graham made the announcement via his Facebook page.

Billy Graham August 19UFC Fighter Cheal Sonnen gave me a surprise phone call this afternoon 5:30 Phoenix time Monday, August 19th. We had a fun conversation about him using my promos and I will be looking to go to one of his fights and walk him to the ring and sit ring side to show my support for him sometime in the fall.

Chael is doing what other fighters should be doing. If fighters want fans to shell out $60 to see them fight then they need to invoke an emotional response. Chael does that better than anyone. He can make you laugh in the fight's build up and in victory but he also shows great sportsmanship and humility in defeat. Do you know why I don't want to buy a Jon Jones ppv? He makes no effort to market himself and sell his fights. We all know his opponents don't stand a chance but he needs to sell fans on his opponent and tell them why it will be such a great fight to watch. Some fighters get it bust most don't.

JStrongMMA - Chael is doing what other fighters should be doing. If fighters want fans to shell out $60 to see them fight then they need to invoke an emotional response. Chael does that better than anyone. He can make you laugh in the fight's build up and in victory but he also shows great sportsmanship and humility in defeat. Do you know why I don't want to buy a Jon Jones ppv? He makes no effort to market himself and sell his fights. We all know his opponents don't stand a chance but he needs to sell fans on his opponent and tell them why it will be such a great fight to watch. Some fighters get it bust most don't.

I understand what you're saying. But he does have exciting fights, that's the most important thing, and that's why I watch and am a fan.

Very cool. The UFC needs to hire Paul Heyman to instruct these kids on how to sell fights, promote themselves and do it well. Been saying this for years.

Agreed! I'm so tired of 95% of the fighters being asked who they want to fight next during their post-victory interview and all they say is the cliche "whoever the UFC tells me to..." They are being handed an opportunity to sell an interesting fight on a silver platter. You already have the balls and skill to win in the UFC, call somebody out damn it!

I'm all for fighters expressing their religious views in whatever manner they see fit but this whole thing of Chael teaming up with ultra right wing evangelist Billy Graham just doesn't sit well with me.

Up until this point Chael, despite being a Christian, has expressed his opinion that God should be left out of fighting. He even went as far to say that "Any God that cares about the winner of a barely legal cage fight on a Saturday night is no God that he wishes to believe in." I couldn't agree more with him. I just wonder what caused his sudden change of heart? Could it be that Graham's ministry is secretly sponsoring Chael and sending him large amounts of cash in hopes of capturing a younger, hipper generation or parishioners?

Where will this new trend end? A lot of other fighters seem to be imitating Chael's unique pre-fight antics in hopes of securing a bigger payday. Will his new partnership with Billy Graham result in other fighters seeking the endorsements of other spiritual leaders? Will Benson Henderson walk out to the cage with Ted Haggard? Will Jon Jones take Joel Osteen for a well publicized ride in his Bentley? Will Chris Weidman have Steven Spielberg in his corner for his first title defense? Where will this all end?

The Loge - I'm all for fighters expressing their religious views in whatever manner they see fit but this whole thing of Chael teaming up with ultra right wing evangelist Billy Graham just doesn't sit well with me.

Up until this point Chael, despite being a Christian, has expressed his opinion that God should be left out of fighting. He even went as far to say that "Any God that cares about the winner of a barely legal cage fight on a Saturday night is no God that he wishes to believe in." I couldn't agree more with him. I just wonder what caused his sudden change of heart? Could it be that Graham's ministry is secretly sponsoring Chael and sending him large amounts of cash in hopes of capturing a younger, hipper generation or parishioners?

Where will this new trend end? A lot of other fighters seem to be imitating Chael's unique pre-fight antics in hopes of securing a bigger payday. Will his new partnership with Billy Graham result in other fighters seeking the endorsements of other spiritual leaders? Will Benson Henderson walk out to the cage with Ted Haggard? Will Jon Jones take Joel Osteen for a well publicized ride in his Bentley? Will Chris Weidman have Steven Spielberg in his corner for his first title defense? Where will this all end?

The Loge - I'm all for fighters expressing their religious views in whatever manner they see fit but this whole thing of Chael teaming up with ultra right wing evangelist Billy Graham just doesn't sit well with me.

Up until this point Chael, despite being a Christian, has expressed his opinion that God should be left out of fighting. He even went as far to say that "Any God that cares about the winner of a barely legal cage fight on a Saturday night is no God that he wishes to believe in." I couldn't agree more with him. I just wonder what caused his sudden change of heart? Could it be that Graham's ministry is secretly sponsoring Chael and sending him large amounts of cash in hopes of capturing a younger, hipper generation or parishioners?

Where will this new trend end? A lot of other fighters seem to be imitating Chael's unique pre-fight antics in hopes of securing a bigger payday. Will his new partnership with Billy Graham result in other fighters seeking the endorsements of other spiritual leaders? Will Benson Henderson walk out to the cage with Ted Haggard? Will Jon Jones take Joel Osteen for a well publicized ride in his Bentley? Will Chris Weidman have Steven Spielberg in his corner for his first title defense? Where will this all end?

The Loge - I'm all for fighters expressing their religious views in whatever manner they see fit but this whole thing of Chael teaming up with ultra right wing evangelist Billy Graham just doesn't sit well with me.

Up until this point Chael, despite being a Christian, has expressed his opinion that God should be left out of fighting. He even went as far to say that "Any God that cares about the winner of a barely legal cage fight on a Saturday night is no God that he wishes to believe in." I couldn't agree more with him. I just wonder what caused his sudden change of heart? Could it be that Graham's ministry is secretly sponsoring Chael and sending him large amounts of cash in hopes of capturing a younger, hipper generation or parishioners?

Where will this new trend end? A lot of other fighters seem to be imitating Chael's unique pre-fight antics in hopes of securing a bigger payday. Will his new partnership with Billy Graham result in other fighters seeking the endorsements of other spiritual leaders? Will Benson Henderson walk out to the cage with Ted Haggard? Will Jon Jones take Joel Osteen for a well publicized ride in his Bentley? Will Chris Weidman have Steven Spielberg in his corner for his first title defense? Where will this all end?

Very cool. The UFC needs to hire Paul Heyman to instruct these kids on how to sell fights, promote themselves and do it well. Been saying this for years.

Agreed! I'm so tired of 95% of the fighters being asked who they want to fight next during their post-victory interview and all they say is the cliche "whoever the UFC tells me to..." They are being handed an opportunity to sell an interesting fight on a silver platter. You already have the balls and skill to win in the UFC, call somebody out damn it!

Yup. They're saying what they think Dana wants to hear. Obviously he likes when someone is down to fight anyone/anytime/anywhere ("a real f@$kin fighter"), but looking back on some old TUF episodes I remember Dana being more excited when contestants would call out their fight...

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